Education
April 13, 2011

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education:

Students Excel at Skilled Trades and Technology Competitions

Earlier this month, more than 200 secondary and post-secondary students from across the province competed at the 14th Annual Provincial Skills Canada Skilled Trades and Technology Competitions.

Sponsored by Skills Canada-Newfoundland Labrador, this event showcases the talent of our students, and allows young people to explore the world of skilled trades and technology. Students compete in such diverse categories as carpentry, brick masonry, robotics, graphic design, and TV video production.

I congratulate all the competitors, particularly the 34 gold medal winners who will travel to Quebec City for the national competition in June, and the top placing secondary and post-secondary schools – Ascension Collegiate in Bay Roberts, and the Prince Philip Drive campus of College of the North Atlantic.

This is an exciting time to be in the skilled trades in this province. In oil and gas-related industries, ocean technology and engineering, and in many other growing and emerging sectors of our economy, the opportunities for young people are unprecedented.

The Provincial Government is investing heavily in skilled trades and apprenticeship training to ensure our education system can respond to growing needs in industry. At the high school level, for example, we have developed six new courses through our $13 million Futures in Skilled Trades and Technology program, which is now offered in 91 schools. At the post-secondary level, we are using the Skills Task Force Report as a blueprint to improve the apprenticeship program, and build the province’s skilled workforce.

I would be remiss if I did not mention one group of three competitors in the category of abilympic photography – Michael Mercer, Megan Quinlan and Randy White, all of whom have mobility-related disabilities. As there is no national competition in this field, these students will be travelling to Korea in the fall to compete against other international abilympic photography teams.

I invite my colleagues in this House to join me in congratulating all involved in the Provincial Skills Canada Skilled Trades and Technology Competitions and to wish our students the best of luck at the national and international events.

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2011 04 13                                                                                                   2:30 p.m.